Combination washer and drier



March 29, 1966 K. J. HEINICKE ETAL COMBINATION WASHER AND DRIER Filed July 22, 1964 OOODO 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS KURT J. HEINICKE PAUL K. SHAFER Wag ATTORNEY March 29, 1966 Filed July 22, 1964 K. J. HEINICKE ET AL COMBINATION WASHER AND DRIER 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS KURT J. HEINICKE PAUL K. SHAFER AT TORN EY March 29, 1966 K. .1. HEINICKE ET AL 9 COMBINATION WASHER AND DRIER Filed July 22, 1964 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTORS KURT J. HEINICKE PAUL K. SHAFER 9 M 11. QL

ATTORNEY March 1966 K. J. HEINICKE ETAL 3,

COMBINATION WASHER AND DRIER Filed July 22, 1964 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTORS KURT J. HEINLCKE BY PAUL K. SHAFER gn'au A -fa NEY United States Patent 3,242,934 COMBINATION WASHER AND DRIER Kurt J. Heinicke and Paul K. Shafer, Hollywood, Fla., assignors to Heinicke Instruments Co., Hollywood, Fla.,

a corporation of Florida Filed July 22, 1964, Ser. No. 384,329

' 6 Claims. (Cl. 134-99) thede'vice also employing a drying mechanism for circulating heated filtered air through and around the articles that have been cleaned.

The invention further contemplates a washing apparatus that defines an open frame formed by perforated Separate tubes and couplings therefor and with novel means of connecting each of the tubes to perform first, a washing action, then a rinse action and then a distilled rinse, permitting thewasher to reciprocate and still maintain connection with the respective sources of fluid supply. A further object of the invention resides in a novel form of means to continuously drive the washer in its reciproeating movement and at the same time permitting the flow of the sevcralfluid mediums through the respective tubes of the washer. j, A further objectof the invention resides in a washing and drying apparatus having a reciprocating washer head whereby the cleaning and rising fluids are ejected to impinge ,upon the articles to be cleaned within a basket supported upon fixed rails and whereby the head is adapted to spray the cleaning and rinsing fluids upon the articles from the sides, the top and the bottom and with a cabinet supporting the mechanism having doors at its front and back walls, to constitute a pass-through cleaning device.

A further object of the invention resides in a novel form of storage tank and means for controlling the flow from a drip pan spanning the casing and means to direct the: drainageto adjacent compartments within the tank. Novel.;features of construction and operation of the device w'ill be more clearly apparent during the course of the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings wherein has been illustrated the preferred form of the device and wherein like charactersof reference are employed to denote like parts throughout the several figures.

, In the drawings: I FIGURE 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a machine constructed in accordance with the invention, FIGURE 2 is a transverse vertical section, parts being shown'in elevation and parts in section,

FIGURE 3 is a horizontal section taken substantially on line 33 of FIGURE 2, FIGURE 4 is an enlarged section taken substantially on line" 44 of FIGURE 3,

FIGURE 5 is a section taken substantially on line 5--5 of FIGURE 3,

FIGURE 6 is a section taken on line 6-6 of FIGURE 5, looking in the direction of the arrows,

FIGURE 7 is a section taken substantially on line 77 of FIGURE 1,

FIGURE 8 is a section taken on line 88 of FIG- URE 7,

FIGURE 9 is a fragmentary section taken substantially nect to horizontal tubes 16 and 17.

Patented Mar. 29, 1966 ice on line 99 of FIGURE 7 and illustrating control means for a valve.

Referring specifically to the drawings, there has been illustrated a cabinet having a front wall 5, a rear wall 6, a top wall 7 and a bottom 8. The cabinet may be formed of any desirable construction, such as sheet metal and suitably braced against flexing. The walls 5 and 6 are provided with closure doors 9, hinged or otherwise supported, as is customary. 1

Mounted in the upper portion of the casing and within a chamber 10, is a reciprocating washer device, indicated as a whole by the numeral 11. The Washer device, see particularly FIGURE 3 is formed ofcylindrical tubes 12, 13 and 14 and these tubes communicate with couplings 15 which constitute the corners for the washer and con- The tubes are all perforated in a direction toward an area that-is defined by the washer. The lower couplings 15 are adapted to ride upon angletrackways 18. It will thus be apparent so far as the structure has been described that the washer 11 forms a box-like open structure. Spanning the length of the casing are fixed bars 19 constituting a support for a foraminous basket 20 into which is placed the articles to be cleaned.- The Washer reciprocates back and forth upon the tracks 18 and each of the tubes are perforated to spray the various mediums over the articles in the basket.

Each of the forward lower tubes of the washer are connected by couplings 21, 22 and 23, each of the couplings communicating with their respective tubes. Each of the couplings are connected to a source of fluid supply by elongated tubes 24, slidable within a cylinder 25 and with the tubes 24 having seals 26 to prevent the escape of fluid passing therethrough. The cylinder 25 is fixed to a coupling 27, communicating with a vertical supply pipe 28. The structure just described is typical for eachv of the couplings 21, 22 and 23 with the exception, that the pipes 28 lead to their respective sources of fluid supply, such as a wash solution, a rinse solution and a distilled rinse. 1

For the washing cycle, there has been provided in the lower part of the casing with a supply tank 29 carrying a heater element 30 and a pump 31 createsa flow of washing fluid from the tank 29, through the pipe 28a, the stand pipe 28, through the coupling 27, tube 24 and hence to the pipes 14, Where the washing medium is circulated through the several corresponding pipes 14 to be supplied outwardly, downwardly and upwardly upon the articles in the basket 20. This washing cycle is operable during the reciprocating movement of the washer 11 and after a predetermined washing cycle, it becomes necessary to initially rinse the articles and this is performed by a source of pressurized rinse medium from a suitable supply, to a pipe 32, controlled by a solenoid valve 34 inthe pipe 35 and the pipe 35 has a corresponding stand pipe similar to the pipe 28 and to the plumbing arrangement shown in FIGURE 4 and to the pipes 13. A filter 36 may be installed within the pipe 35 as will be apparent. After the apparatus has performed its rinsing cycle, it now becomes necessary that the articles within the basket be subjected to a distilled rinse. For this purpose, there has been provided a pump 37, receiving a supply fluid through a pipe 38 from a suitable tank or other storage means and this distilled rinse is pumped through a pipe 39, past a filter 4d and then through its particular stand pipe 28 to the Washer tubes 12, circulating through the corresponding pipes 12 throughout the structure of the washer, thoroughly rinsing the articles with a distilled rinse medium. The tank 29, see particularly FIGURES 7 and 8 is provided adjacent one end with a partition 2%, forming chambers A and B. The partition 29a does not extend to the top of the tank, as will be clearly apparent in FIGURE 8. The fluid from the drip pan 44 is drained downwardly into the tank 29 through a pipe 41 that communicates with the chambers A and B. The drainage fluid from the pipe 41 may be directed into either the chamber A or B by a fiat valve 43, that is fixed to a cross shaft 44 and the shaft is rotatable to cause theflat valve 43 to overlie the partition 29a and to direct the drainage fluid into the tank A or, when the valve 43 is in the opposite direction, to drain the fluid into the chamber B for disposal through a drainage coupling 41a. The drainage pipe 41 is disposed over the valve 43 and permits the drainage to enter either the chamber B or the chamber ,A and to thereby prevent the diluting of the fluid in chamber A or to prevent too great a cooling of the washing fluid; The means to rotate the shaft 44 comprises a motor 44a, having a linkage connection to a crank arm 44b, fixed upon the shaft 44 and with the motor and the linkage being within a fixed housing 29b, welded or otherwise connected to one side of the tank 29. The motor 44a at a predetermined cycle, actuates the linkage to shift the valve 43 in one direction,- to cause the drainage fluid to fall downwardly and enter the tank chamber A and,'when the motor is deactivated, the parts are reversed by a spring 440, causing the drainage fluid to enter the chamber B for discharge through the drain 41a.

Means are provided to reciprocate the washer 11, comprising ,a rod 45 that is coupled at one end to a bracket 46: fixed to the lower flights of the tubes 12, 13 and 14 and whereby to shift the washer in a back and forth manner uponthe rails 18. The rod 45 at its rear end is fixed to a bracket 47, carrying grooved rollers 48, adapted to traverse flanges 49 on a box-like housing 50. The housing 50 is connected to one vertical wall 44 of the drainage pan 44 while its opposite end is connected to an end wall of the casing 6. Journaled within the housing 50, is an endless chain 51, carrying a lateral pin 52 that engages a vertical slot 53 formed in the bracket 47. The chain 51 engages sprocket wheels 54 and 55 that are suitably journaled within a wall of the housing 50 and the sprocket 55 is preferably driven from. the motor 56'. With the motor 56 in operation, driving a sprocket chain or belt 57 to the sprocket 55, the chain is shifted around the sprockets, causing the pin 52 to actuate the bracket 47 substantially for the full length of the housing 50, causing the rod 45 to oscillate the washer 11 in a back and forth manner over the basket 20, subjecting the entire group of articles in the basket to a thorough clean irig action. As the chain 51 is driven, the pin 52 rides up and down in the groove 53, carrying the bracket 47 in a back and forth movement along the flanges 49.

Means are provided after completion of the washing and rinsing cycle to thoroughly dry the articles within the basket, comprising a blower 58, connected by hood 59 to a conduit 60. The conduit 60 is provided with heating elements 61, a pie-filter 62 and a final filter 63.

The conduit communicates with a vertical conduit 64 formed by the side wall of the casing and a partition into the upper chamber 10 through a closely perforated wall 66 whereby to disperse the heated air throughout the chamber 10 and in and around the articles within the basket. The heated air then passes through a closely perforated baffle 67 and upwardly to be discharged through a stack 68. The baflle 67 and the adjacent side wall of the casing constitutes an escape duct 69 for the air after it has performed its function. It is contemplated that the perforated partition 66 and the baflle 67 shall extend for substantially the full depth of the machine. All of the component parts, including the pump 31, the pump 37 and the actuation of the solenoid valve 34 shall be suitably timed by any desired timing mechanism and a time control means for the blower 58 will also actuate the blower after the washing and cleansing action.

In the use of the device, the access doors 9 are opened and the basket 20 carrying the articles to be cleaned is rested upon the rails or rods 15*. The motor 56 is then actuated causing the chain 51 to shift the bracket 47 and the rod 45 in a back and forth manner, moving the entire washer assembly in a direction lengthwise of the casing. The pump 31 being then actuated, forces the washing fluid through its respective pipes and the tube 24 to force a pressurized wash medium to the series of tubes 14, spraying the washing medium laterally and downwardly and upwardly upon all of the articles within the basket. After the washing cycle, the solenoid 34 is actuated to permit pressurized rinsing medium to flow through its respective pipes to the series of pipes 13, suchbeing identical to the structure illustrated in FIGURE 4. Upon a predetermined number of reciprocations of the washer, the solenoid closes and the pump 37 is then actuated, forcing a distilled rinse fluid upon the articles in the basket; After the predetermined distilled rinse motions of the washer, the blower 58 is brought into operation forcing heated and filtered air through the conduit 64 and downwardly andthrongh' the perforated parti; tion 66, flowing transversely of the chamber 1-0 and after impingement upon the articles in the basket, the air becomes cooled andescapes through the perforated baflle 67 to escape upwardly through the duct 69 and out of the stack 68. It will of course be apparent that a system of cycle control will be installed for the several elements so that the operation is continuous and uninterrupted throughout the washing, rinsing and distilled rinse and then the drying. The various electrical components will all be controlled for the complete cycles of movement of the washer and the drying of the articles. The device is relatively simple, and is highly effective for thoroughly cleaning, rinsing and drying of articleswithin the removable basket 20. As will be seen in FIGURE 2, the washer 11 overrides and underrides the basket 20 and is mosteflective for the cleaning of the articles upon all of their surfaces. I

It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the precise construction shown, but that changes are contemplated as readily fall within the spirit of the invention as shall be determined by the scope of the subjoined claims.

We claim:

1. A combined washing and drying apparatus for use in Washing and drying glassware and small articles of hardware comprising a casing open at its front and back, closure doors for the openings of the front and back, a drip pan spanning the casing fordividing the casing into upper and lower chambers, a reciprocating washer head comprising an open frame formed of multiple pipe sections coupled into a coupling at each corner of the head to form pipes extending vertically at each corner of the frame and horizontally with respect to the upper and lower sides of the frame, each of the pipes defining a single fluid circuit throughout the periphery of the head, the several pipes being perforated to eject sprays toward a central portion of the head, coupling means connected to each of the pipes in a lower horizontal group to conduct fluid to the several pipes throughout the periphery of the head at timed intervals, the couplings being fixed to an elongated pipe section that is shiftable through a tubular housing to permit the reciprocating movement of the head, said last named pipe section being provided with seal means slidable within the tubular housing, the tubular housing being fixedly connected to a coupling head connected to a source of fluid under pressure, trackways in the casing below the head for supporting the head in its reciprocating movement, means for driving the head in a reciprocating movement toward and from the openings of the casing, said drive means including a bracket fixed to a forward part of the head, said bracket carrying a drive rod means driven from an endless chain for driving the rod forwardly and backwardly to reciprocate the head, a perforated partition at one side of the upper chamber and a perforated partition at the opposite side of the upper chamber, a blower device disposed within the lower chamber, the blower device discharging into a stack between the first named partition and the adjacent outer wall for conducting air upwardly and downwardly through the first named partition to dry the articles in the upper chamber, the air passing through the second named perforated partition flowing upwardly through an escape stack, a forarninous basket disposed within the upper chamber and within the area of the head so that the head travels over and around the basket, said basket supporting the glassware or hardware, the several couplings for the groups of pipes being connected respectively to sources of pressurized fluid including a detergent washing fluid, a rinsing fluid and a sterilizing rinsing fluid.

2. The structure according to claim 1 wherein the head includes a group of pipes disposed in a lower horizontal group and an upper horizontal group and vertical groups and with the pipes in each group being connected by upper and lower corner couplings whereby each pipe of the group is continuous throughout the periphery of the head, the pipes in each group being parallel and perforated in their length to direct jet sprays to the inner area of the frame, including upwardly directed jets, downwardly directed jets and horizontally directed jets, a forward lower horizontal group of pipes being provided with couplings and with each coupling being connected to a source of fluid supply such as for the washing of the articles, the rinsing of the articles and the sterilizing rinsing of the articles, each of the pipes defining a continuous circuit for its respective fluid throughout the head.

3. The structure according to claim 1 wherein the blower is connected to a duct having heating elements therein and wherein the air for drying the articles is heated and filtered.

4. The structure according to claim 3 wherein the storage tank adjacent one end is provided with a partition dividing the tank into a main storage chamber for the washing fluid and a drainage chamber, a coupling connected to the drainage chamber at its bottom, a wing valve disposed above the partition and underlying the drainage pipe from the drip pan, means for shifting the valve to deflect drainage Water from the drip pan into the main chamber when in one position and to direct water from the drip pan to the other chamber when the valve is shifted to a second position, the valve being supported upon a shaft transversely of the tank, a motor for shifting the valve in one direction and a spring for shifting the valve in a reverse direction.

5. A washing and drying apparatus for articles of glassware and articles of hardware comprising a cabinet having upper and lower chambers separated by an intermediate drip pan, the cabinet being open at its opposite ends, closure doors for the openings of the cabinet, trackways disposed within the upper chamber, a washer head resting on and slidable back and forth upon the trackways,

the washer head including at least three groups of pipes which are both vertically and horizontally disposed, said pipes at their upper and lower ends communicating through coupling heads whereby a single group of pipes constitute a single circuit for a fluid, a foraminous basket supported within the cabinet and within the area of the washer head for supporting the articles to be cleaned, means for reciprocating the head toward and from the openings, said means including a bracket fixed to a lower group of pipes in the washer head, the bracket supporting one end of an elongated rod, the rod at its opposite end being fixed within a bearing block, the block being attached to the washer head and carrying anti-friction grooved rollers, a generally rectangular housing fixed in the lower chamber beneath the drip pan, said housing having flanges on which the rollers ride the block being grooved, an endless chain, sprockets engaging the chain at each end of the housing, means for driving one sprocket, a pin carried by the chain for shifting the bearing block and the rod attached thereto backward and forward to shift the head in an oscillatory manner, the said pin riding within the groove of the block, each of the pipes in a lower forward group being provided with fluid couplings, said couplings carrying elongated pipe sections that traverse cylindrical tubes, seal means carried by the first named pipe sections, the said cylindrical tubular means fixed to a coupling head, one coupling head being connected to a pump for forcing a detergent washing fluid through that particular group of pipes to be sprayed upon the articles within the basket, the second coupling head being connected by a pipe to a source for forcing a rinsing fluid forced through a second group of pipes around the entire periphery of the washing head and the third coupling head being connected by a pipe to a source of pressurized sterilized rinsing medium, the last named pipe having a filter in its length, the second named pipe being connected to a pump from a source of supply, the pipe also being provided in its length with a filter.

6. The structure according to claim 5 wherein all of the pipes of the washer head are perforated in a direction toward the basket for spraying the detergent, the rinse and the sterilized rinse upon the articles to be cleaned, the said basket being supported upon fixed supports extending longitudinally of the cabinet.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,575,493 11/1951 Hilliker 13495 X 2,707,961 5/1955 Geiger et al. 13495 X 2,827,064 3/ 1958 Heinicke 134199 X 3,099,276 7/1963 Bergendahl 134-107 3,103,936 9/1963 Nolte 134107 X FOREIGN PATENTS 163,240 6/ 1949 Austria.

CHARLES A. WILLMUTH, Primary Examiner.

ROBERT L. BLEUTGE, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A COMBINED WASHING AND DRYING APPARATUS FOR USE IN WASHING AND DRYING GLASSWARE AND SMALL ARTICLES OF HARDWARE COMPRISING A CASING OPEN AT ITS FRONT AND BACK, CLOSURE DOORS FOR THE OPENINGS OF THE FRONT AND BACK, A DRIP PAN SPANNING THE CASING FOR DIVIDING THE CASING INTO UPPER AND LOWER CHAMBERS, A RECIPROCATING WASHER HEAD COMPRISING AN OPEN FRAME FORMED OF MULTIPLE PIPE SECTIONS COUPLED INTO A COUPLING AT EACH CORNER OF THE HEAD TO FORM PIPES EXTENDING VERTICALLY AT EACH CORNER OF THE FRAME AND HORIZONTALLY WITH RESPECT TO THE UPPER AND LOWER SIDES OF THE FRAME, EACH OF THE PIPES DEFINING A SINGLE FLUID CIRCUIT THROUGHOUT THE PERIPHERY OF THE HEAD, THE SEVERAL PIPES BEING PERFORATED TO EJECT SPRAYS TOWARD A CENTRAL PORTION OF THE HEAD, COUPLING MEANS CONNECTED TO EACH OF THE PIPES IN A LOWER HORIZONTAL GROUP TO CONDUCT FLUID TO THE SEVERAL PIPES THROUGHOUT THE PERIPHERY OF THE HEAD AT TIMED INTERVALS, THE COUPLINGS BEING FIXED TO AN ELONGATED PIPE SECTION THAT IS SHIFTABLE THROUGH A TUBU LAR HOUSING TO PERMIT THE RECIPROCATING MOVEMENT OF THE HEAD, SAID LAST NAMED PIPE SECTION BEING PROVIDED WITH SEAL MEANS SLIDABLE WITHIN THE TUBULAR HOUSING, THE TUBU LAR HOUSING BEING FIXEDLY CONNECTED TO A COUPLING HEAD CONNECTED TO A SOURCE OF FLUID UNDER PRESSURE, TRACKWAYS IN THE CASING BELOW THE HEAD FOR SUPPORTING THE HEAD IN ITS RECIPROCATING MOVEMENT, MEANS FOR DRIVING THE HEAD IN A RECIPROCATING MOVEMENT TOWARD AND FROM THE OPENINGS OF THE CASING, SAID DRIVE MEANS INCLUDING A BRACKET FIXED TO A FORWARD PART OF THE HEAD, SAID BRACKET CARRYING A DRIVE ROD MEANS DRIVEN FROM AN ENDLESS CHAIN FOR DRIVING THE ROD FORWARDLY AND BACKWARDLY TO RECIPROCATE THE HEAD, A PERFORATED PARTITION AT ONE SIDE OF THE UPPER CHAMBER AND A PERFORATED PARTITION AT THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE UPPER CHAMBER, A BLOWER DEVICE DISPOSED WITHIN THE LOWER CHAMBER, THE BLOWER DEVICE DISCHARGING INTO A STACK BETWEEN THE FIRST NAMED PARTITION AND THE ADJACENT OUTER WALL FOR CONDUCTING AIR UPWARDLY AND DOWNWARDLY THROUGH THE FIRST NAMED PARTITION TO DRY THE ARTICLES IN THE UPPER CHAMBER, THE AIR PASSING THROUGH THE SECOND NAMED PERFORATED PARTITION FLOWING UPWARDLY THROUGH AN ESCAPE STACK, A FORAMINOUS BASKET DISPOSED WITHIN THE UPPER CHAMBER AND WITHIN THE AREA OF THE HEAD SO THAT THE HEAD TRAVELS OVER AND AROUND THE BASKET, SAID BASKET SUPPORTING THE GLASSWARE OR HARDWARE, THE SEVERAL COUPLINGS FOR THE GROUPS OF PIPES BEING CONNECTED RESPECTIVELY TO SOURCES OF PRESSURIZED FLUID INCLUDING A DETERGENT WASHING FLUID, A RINSING FLUID AND A STERILIZING RINSING FLUID. 